Healing after weight-loss surgery

(NewsUSA) - Obesity is a national health crisis affecting over one-third of all American adults (72 million people). It increases the risk for a number of serious health problems, including coronary heart disease, type-2 diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and others. For most people, the safest and most effective way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. But for some, this is not enough. For these people, weight-loss surgery may be an option.

While weight-loss surgery (often referred to as "bariatric surgery") has been around since the late 1960s, recent advancements in surgical techniques and increased safety have made it an increasingly popular option. Last year an estimated 220,000 Americans underwent a weight-loss surgery procedure, and this number continues to grow.

But healing from weight-loss surgery, including gastric bypass and laproscopic banding procedures, can be more complicated than one might expect. Immediately following, and for several days after surgery, patients are prohibited from eating, and their diet is restricted to clear liquids, including water, diluted non-acidic fruit juices, tea, artificially sweetened non-carbonated drinks, broth and sugar-free gelatin. Over the next few months, patients gradually progress from an all-liquid diet to a solid food diet of 1,000 to 1,200 calories per day with several intermediate steps along the way.

The problem? Water and fruit juices do not supply adequate protein that the body needs for recovery. Doctors want to improve their patients' post-surgery nutrition, but traditional protein drinks are often too thick and heavy, contain calorie-packed carbohydrates and are unsuitable for use during the initial phases of recovery.

The Isopure Company, LLC, which makes nutritional products, developed Isopure Plus Zero Carb Protein Drink to help bariatric surgery patients get the protein they need during their recovery and beyond.

Unlike other nutritional drinks, Isopure Plus is clear, fruit-flavored and never thick or milky. Bariatric patients can drink it during any phase of recovery, and it provides 15 grams of high-quality whey protein and all eight amino acids in a single, 60-calorie, eight-ounce serving. The drink is lactose-, gluten- and fat-free and comes in two flavors -- Alpine Punch and Grape Frost.